Match-machine.



Patented lune l2, I900,

my 65l,635.

F. J. MILLER.

MATCH MACHINE. A

(Application filed Dec. 5, 189's.)

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(No Model.)

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No. 65|,635. Patented lune l2, I900.

F. J. MILLER.

MATCH MACHINE. (Application filed Dec. 5, 1898.)

(No Model.)

5 sheats- -sheet 2.

N0. 65I,635. v Patentd lune I2, I900. F. J. MILLER.

MATCH MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 5, 1898f) (No Model.) '5 sheets sheet 3.

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(No Model.)

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No. 65L 635. 'Paten ted lune |2,'-|900.

F. J. MILL-ER. MATCH MACHINE.

{Application filed Dec. 5, 1898.)

5 Sheets Shaet 5.

(No Model.)

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I UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK J. MILLER, OF IVILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR TO THE DIAMOND MATCH COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MATCH-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 651,635, dated June 12, 1900.

Application filed December 5, 1898. fierial No. 698,284. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK J. MILLER, of Wilmington, in the county of New Castle, and in the State of Delaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a match-machine in which my improvements are embodied. Fig. 2 is a detail view, in vertical section, of the mechanism for-cutting the splints, placing them in the carrier, and for discharging the completed splints from the carrier. Fig. 3 is a view inside elevation of thesame portion of the machine'that is shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan viewthereof, and

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the carrier. I

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine for making matches so as to increase the efficiency thereof, simplify its construction, and avoid the use of parts that require accurate adjustment, and hence are apt to be easily deranged 5 and to these ends said invention consists in the machine having the features of construction substantially as hereinafter specified.

In the embodiment of my invention as shown in the accompanying drawings wooden splints are used in making the matches and a splint-cutting mechanism is illustrated as a part of the machine; but it is to be understood that this is merely one adaptation of my improvements, as the latter can be employed when thecutting mechanism is not a part of the organized machine and also when paper or waxed threads or tapers are used instead of wood for making the splints.

The splint-cutting mechanism illustrated is mounted in a suitable frame A and consists of a series of bars B and B,- each carrying a tubular cutter b, fixed 'in a vertically-reciprocating head C, that receives motion from a cranked driving-shaft D, as is customary in match-makin g machines. Said shaft has the usual band-Wheel E, belted to a suitable source of power. The head C carries beneath the cutters B the usual block-trimming knife 0.

The blocks'of wood from which the splints are out are fed to the cutters by mechanism like that shown in the Beecher patent, No. 389,435, issued September 11, 1888.

As is common in match-machines, I employ an endless orcontinuous carrier into which the splints are placed and by which they are carried tothe heating, paraflining, and compositionapplying devices and from which the finished matches are discharged, the said carrier being made to travel above the cutter-carrying head to receive the cut splints as they are carried upward by said head. The carrier I employ consists of an endless chain rwhose links are each composed of parallel longitudinally-extending bars F and F, the ends of the bars of one link being connected by a transverse rod or bolt Gwith the ends of the bars of an adjoining link. The end of the bar of one link has at one end at its transverse center a single lug f, that enters between a pair of lugs f and f on the connected bar, each bar having at one end the single lug and at the other end the pair of lugs, and of course throughout the chain the bars whose ends are thus connected are in line with each other. The bars have fiat sides, being preferably rectangular in cross-section, and adjacent bars are separated from each other by a space less in width than the thickness of a match-splint, such separation being effected and preserved by washers H and H upon the connecting rod or bolt G. Into such space the splints from the cutters or other source of supply are thrust, and preferably for each splint acavityor seatis provided to holditfirmlyand steadily at a right angle to the carrier, that consists of opposite grooves or notches f and f in the adjacent sides of adjoining bars. As said splint seat or cavity is slightly smaller in size than the thickness of the splint to insure the latter being held, the end at which the splint enters is flared, as shown, to guide'and gradually compress the splint.

For driving or moving the carrier the two outermost bars of each link, and, if desired, one or more intermediate ones, as well, are constructed for coperation with suitable driving-wheels. Preferably in the two sides of each of the bars that are at right angles to the splint-engaging sides there are regularlyspaced transverse grooves or notches f 3 and 5 f adapted to be engaged by the teeth of referred to.

rier.

L being mounted on a shaft M and the pawl: N, carried by a lever O, that is vibrated by suitable means from the main shaft Dsuch, for example, as is shown in the patent above A gear P on the shaft M, meshing with an idler Q, that is also in mesh with the gear on one of the shafts K, transmits the motion of the ratchet-wheel to said shaft K.

As it is likely that splints may be somewhat awry or project different distances from the carrier, it is desirable to provide some straightening or evening device at some point 'before the splint-s reach the composition-applying mechanism. -I provide forthis purpose a roller or cylinder R, having in its surface ca vities or depressions r and 1, that have inclinedsides to engage any irregularlyplaced splints on their ends and straighten and move them to proper position in the ear- Said cavities are arranged in parallel rows that extend in lines parallel with the axis of the roll which is transverse of the carrier,"and the number of cavities in a row is the same as the number of splints in a row running crosswise of the carrier, so that each splint in a row has its own cavity. It is suffieient that the cavity have such shape that i'tiwill have inclined sides in a line parallel with the length of the carrier and also in a lineextending crosswise thereof, as the splints are apt to incline only in either of these directions, but I prefer to make the cavity round, and hence of conical form, as such shape is easily made and will engage the splint in whatever direction it may incline.

The evener-roll may be conveniently mounted in bearings on the frame A. As thus placed, it may be readily geared to and driven byone of the shafts K, so as to insure its being rotated in unison with the rate of travel of the carrier. The gearing shown comprises a sprocket-wheel S on the sh aft K, a sprocketwheel T on a shaft U, parallel with the roll, a chain V, connecting said wheels, a gear-wheel lb on the shaft U, and a gear-wheel r on the roll-shaft meshing with and receiving motion from said gear to. Preferably on the shaft U there is a smooth roll IV to engage the ends of any'splints that might possibly be projected too far on the side of the carrier opposite the side at which they are inserted and to constitute a support for the carrier and splints under the thrust imparted by the engagement of the roll B. After leavingthe roll R the splints are carried to drying, paraffining, and composition-applying mechanisms similar to those of the patent before mentioned, and then, as in the machine of said patent, over several drums Xand X back to the mechanism on the frame A to give time for the composition to cool and harden before the complete matches are removed from the carrier. Besides the carrier-driving wheels I and I on the frame A other wheels Y and Y engage the carrier and impart to the portion they engage a continuous motion, as in the machine of the patent before referred to, and said wheels aredriven in the same way as are the wheels for the like purpose in said machine.

For ejecting or discharging the matches from the carrier I mount on the frame A, upon the shaft M, a series of thin Wheels or disks Z and Z, that respectively pass intothe spaces between the carrier-bars F and F and engage the ends of the splints between the bars and easily and gently force them downward and out of the carrier. Said disks are notched at suitable points in their peripheries to enable them to pass over the washers applied to the bar=connecting bolts G. By placing the discharging wheels on the shaft M as the latter is geared to the carrier-moving wheels I and I said discharging-wheels are made to revolve in unison with the rate of travel of the carrier. As portions of the discharging-wheels are always in the spaces between the carrierbars and as their action is easy and'gentle, it is apparent that there is a marked advantage over machines which have punches or ejecting devices which re ciprocate into and out of the carrier, whose movements must be accurately timed and adjusted to the movements of the carrier, derangement of which causes breakage of the machine and which are productive of objectionable jarring and vibration.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A carrier for match-machines, composed of pivotally connected, longitudinally extending bars between which splints are held, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In -a match-machine, the combination of a splint-carrier, composed of longitudinallyextending bars, and driving-Wheels for the carrier that coeperate with certain of the bars, substantiallyas andfor the purpose described.

3. The combination of a traveling splint carrier, and a splintevener having splint-end engaging and surrounding cavities each of which has its sides converging towardeach other and inclining in directions that extend laterally and longitudinally with reference to the line of movement of the carrier, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. A splint-evenerfor match-machines,consisting of a roll having conical cavitles in its surface, substantially as and for the purpose ejector-wheels extending into such spaces; described. and gearing for revolving such wheels, sub- 5. The combination of a carrier having lonstantially as and for the purpose described. gitudinally extending surfaces between In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 5 which are spaces, and a disk or wheel extend= have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of I 5 ing into each of said spaces, substantially as November, 1898.

and for the purpose described. FREDERICK J. MILLER.

6. The combination of a splint-carrier com- WVitnesses: posed of longitudinally-extending bars ar- CHAS. J. WILLIAMSON,

1o ranged side by side with spaces between them, HENRY C. HAZARD. 

